In today's competitive landscape, graphic design proficiency is vital across diverse industries. Our digital-first BA (Hons) Graphic Design positions you as an industry-ready professional with a deep understanding of design principles, industry trends, and client expectations, increasing your chances of securing rewarding positions and advancing your career.  You'll have free access to Adobe Creative Cloud as part of your studies. We'll guide you through integrating your newfound knowledge into your designs using Adobe tools, empowering you to master this essential tool to a professional standard. This BA Graphic Design course will equip you with the professional, creative, and practical skills needed to excel as a graphic designer in the creative industries. Through carefully curated modules tailored to industry demands, you’ll learn why certain compositions work better than others and how to convey specific messages through design. This will enable you to produce high-standard designs and articulate how they fulfil the requirements of a given brief.

By the end of the course, you'll be ready to thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape, presenting yourself as a well-rounded graphic designer with the knowledge and skills to succeed.

We prioritise your employability, ensuring you acquire valuable experience for your future career. You'll tackle authentic industry briefs, guided step-by-step from concept to completion. This process empowers you to transform creative ideas into industry-standard original designs, equipping you with the skills you need to effectively handle client briefs in a professional setting.

No exams: Instead of traditional exams, our assessments mirror real-world tasks you'll encounter in your career. This approach ensures you graduate fully prepared for the workplace, with a focus on building a comprehensive portfolio.

Tailored technical skill sessions: Our lecturers have curated a library of technical skill videos and offer personalised one-on-one assistance, empowering you to employ various design techniques. These skills enrich your professional toolkit, enabling you to create remarkable designs.

Specialisation opportunities: We advocate for specialisation and personal growth through independent projects. Working closely with you, we explore your response to briefs, helping you discover your unique creative voice. This allows you to specialise in an area of graphic design most aligned with your passions.

Design thinking: We prioritise the development of critical analysis skills, essential for understanding the purpose and effectiveness of imagery in graphic design. Our dedicated modules in this area cultivate a deep understanding of design principles, setting you apart in the field.

Professional portfolio development: In your final year, we offer a free web space for you to showcase the work you have created throughout your studies. Every aspect of your degree contributes to your industry relevance, and we provide guidance on presenting yourself as a “full package graphic designer”.

Hands-on learning is central to our approach: Throughout the course, you'll engage in drawing, creating, and designing, all while honing core graphic design skills like digital design, typography, and image creation for diverse platforms and objectives – from UX design to packaging. This practical approach ensures you not only learn but also can apply your knowledge effectively. By consistently putting theory into practice, you'll graduate equipped with industry-relevant skills.

Personal Portfolio Development: Everything you produce becomes part of your professional portfolio, which we assist you in developing using our free personal webspace while you're enrolled with us. This platform allows you to showcase your capabilities to potential employers.

Are you passionate about design and interested in advancing into a managerial position? Our accredited MA Design Management programme is tailored to meet the demands of contemporary design thinking and business practices. It equips you with the skills needed for emerging career opportunities across diverse sectors. Upon completion, you'll be eligible to apply for a Level 7 Strategic Leadership and Management certificate from the Chartered Management Institute. This MA imparts advanced management skills for those currently working in or aspiring to managerial roles within the design industry. Through the programme, you will develop proficiency in design practices and methodologies while gaining a comprehensive understanding of management principles relevant to design. During your studies with us, you'll focus on four main themes: visual design, design thinking and practice, project management, and strategic leadership.

We extend unique insights and approaches that go beyond traditional education, equipping you with specialised skills not typically offered in other degree programmes. You'll develop a thorough understanding of the critical aspects involved in successfully developing innovative designs, products, services, brands and businesses. You'll graduate with the confidence and capabilities to drive transformative change in design business culture through innovative design solutions and strategic leadership and management. This course provides extensive training in managing creative and design projects. You will develop a deep understanding of overseeing creative endeavours, managing teams and workflows within a creative context, and navigating the effects of evolving social norms and emerging technologies like AI. You'll graduate as a proficient problem solver equipped with highly transferable business skills sought after by a wide range of companies spanning various industries. 

Upon graduation from this degree programme, you'll be eligible to apply for a Level 7 certificate in Strategic Management & Leadership Practice from the CMI. This also grants you the CMI Foundation Chartered Manager Status. This distinction sets you apart in the job market and provides a clear path towards obtaining full Chartered Manager status.

Like you, we believe in real-world assessments you can apply to everyday life, not exams. Throughout the course you’ll have the opportunity to demonstrate your progress through a variety of innovative assessment methods which have been designed to help you showcase your flair and talent for design thinking and management. 

The assessments will help you develop your skills in critical analysis and the evaluation of visual design communication, including its impact on organisations. You will develop a series of portfolios throughout the course, demonstrating your acquired skills and knowledge in areas such as collaborative and independent working and understanding the balance between business and design skills. You’ll also create Design and Personal Development reports where you will reflect on your own position as a contemporary practitioner and leader. The final two modules of your degree, the Research Report and Creative Situated Practice module, have been designed to inform each other and will culminate with a final portfolio assessment.